Question reference: S4W-23728
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 18 December 2014
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 January 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider designating the Firth of Lorne as a Special Area of Conservation for porpoises given the reported favourable conditions as a result of the absence of scallop dredging and the removal of nets.
Answer
The UK, with support from the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations, commissioned the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake data collection and analysis in order to put together the most comprehensive set of data for harbour porpoise in UK waters. The JNCC has now issued initial advice to the government as part of this analysis process. The finalised advice will provide the basis for the UK Government, the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations to make decisions about Special Areas of Conservation for harbour porpoise in UK waters, including Scottish inshore waters and the Scottish offshore zone.